Chief Justice Withdraws Public Defenders from Magisterial Courts

By Garmah Lomo

Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh has reportedly ousted from all magisterial courts’ public defenders. Our judicial reporter said the Chief Justice action was not done through a written communication to public defenders, but commanded them to represent clients at the circuit courts level.

It is reported that the Chief Justice ordered the Coordinator of Public Defenders Cllr. T. Joseph B. Debblay to call his men from all magistrate courts and return to the circuit courts.

Based on the Chief Justice’s order, Cllr. Debblay wrote a brief memo to public defenders commanding them to leave all magisterial courts and return to the criminal courts.

Debblay’s notice to his colleagues stated: “By directive of Her Honor Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, Chief Justice of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, all Public Defense Lawyers assigned in the Magisterial Courts of Montserrado County are to report to the main office of the Public Defenders as of Tuesday, October 1, 2024, for reassignment at the Circuit Courts. This should claim the attention of all concerned.”

The reasons for withdrawing defense lawyers from the magisterial courts is yet to be known after making frantic efforts by this media outlet.